Stagecoach 2012: Reunited Inland Empire group the Unforgiven rocks for the first time in 25 years

April 29, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

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A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

1 of 50

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

A quarter-century since they last performed, cowpunk outfit the Unforgiven reunited to play Stagecoach 2012 early on Sunday. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach. Click the pic to see more.

Once I returned for the third day of Stagecoach, my first order of business was to catch the reunion of the Unforgiven. Hailing from the Inland Empire, the rootsy arena-rock band attained a cult following during the mid-'80s, played Willie Nelson's early Farm Aid events and put out one major-label record before calling it quits. Lead singer/guitarist Steve Jones later helped form Hollywood Records; another guitarist, Johnny Hickman, went on to great success in Cracker, but for unknown reasons opted not to participate in this regrouping.

Goldenvoice head honcho Paul Tollett used to book the group when he promoted small IE shows and was key in getting them back together for the first time in 25 years at Stagecoach. I noticed the company's Bill Fold and Skip Paige turned up to catch a few songs.

Clad almost entirely in black, several members of the sextet even wore black hats and trench coats -- just like the old days. Grappling with the usual muddled mix in the Palomino tent, the Unforgiven persevered with trademark gang vocals and blaring guitar riffs. Alan Waddington looked like a kid in a candy store back behind his drum kit.

"Some of us haven't been on friendly terms over the years, so our rehearsals were like therapy," noted Jones, early in the loud, rousing set. "All Is Quiet on the Western Front" featured an extended jam; "Roverpack" boasted a duel between the axemen; "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" had stinging solos, plus Jones' comments about wisdom coming with age; "Hang 'Em High" could've been on the soundtrack to a classic Western film for more reasons than its title.

Before the strident, anthemic "Days Like These" (a Jones-penned AOR hit for Asia), the raspy-throated frontman related an interesting story about meeting Kris Kristofferson. For the finisher "I Hear the Call," a flute player and seven young members of the Inand Empire Drum Brigade appeared onstage to give the performance a patriotic, percussive bonanza conclusion.

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